Legacy Park

American sports complex in Mesa, Arizona From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Arizona Athletic Grounds (formerly known as Bell Bank Park, Legacy Park) is an American multi-purpose sports complex in Mesa, Arizona. It opened on January 7, 2022, before its Grand Opening on 4 February 2022, headlined by musician Lindsey Stirling.[1][2][3]

LocationMesa, Arizona
Coordinates33.2985°N 111.6260°W / 33.2985; -111.6260
OwnerLegacy Cares, Inc.
OperatorElite Sports Group
Quick facts Location, Coordinates ...
Arizona Athletic Grounds
Interactive map of Arizona Athletic Grounds
LocationMesa, Arizona
Coordinates33.2985°N 111.6260°W / 33.2985; -111.6260
OwnerLegacy Cares, Inc.
OperatorElite Sports Group
Capacity5,000 (outdoor)
2,800 (indoor)
Construction
OpenedJanuary 2022
Tenants
Arizona Red Devils (X League) (2022–)
Arizona Arsenal SC (USL 2) (2023–)
Website
elitesportsaz.com
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History

Bell Bank Park is situated on the site of a former General Motors testing facility.[4] In 2018, Mesa voters voted against a bond request for a state owned sports facility nearby and that paved the way for this facility.[5] [6]

Ground was broken on the project in October, 2020.[7] The facility is the vision of Legacy Sports, and was known as Legacy Sports Park before a 10-year naming rights deal was struck with Bell Bank.[8][9] The facility was estimated to have cost $280million.[10]

Prior to completion, events were booked including the Jam On It amateur basketball tournaments, who committed to hosting events at the facility until 2032.[11]

Bell Bank Park opened with a pickleball event hosted by the Association of Pickleball Players Tour on 4 January 2022.[12]

In February 2022, it was announced that the Gilbert, Arizona, campus of Park University would make Bell Bank Park the home for their athletic events.[13]

From 2022, the stadium is the home of Valley United FC and FC Arizona.

Financial troubles began to emerge almost immediately after opening. Bell Bank ended their naming rights partnership on 14 April 2023 and the park was renamed Legacy Park. [14] On 1 May 2023 just 16 months after opening the park filed for bankruptcy. At the time of the bankruptcy filing the owners of the park Legacy Cares reported $366.7 million in liabilities and $242.3 million in assets. [15] In July 2023 the U.S. trustee monitoring Legacy Park’s bankruptcy case issued a 23-page filing asking the judge to assign a federal trustee to take over the park’s management and business affairs from owner Legacy Cares. The filing accused Legacy Cares of failing to disclose conflicts of interest, improperly diverting assets, failing to justify a budgeted $708,000 management fee to Elite Sports Group, overpaying executives and employing multiple family members of people connected with Legacy. [16]

Facilities

The facility spans 320 acres (130 ha) and includes:

Commercial partnerships

The facility has commercial partnerships facilitated through Elite Sports. These include:

Venue names

More information Venue Name, Dates ...
Venue NameDates
Arizona Athletic GroundsDecember 2023 - Present
Legacy ParkApril 2023 - December 2023
Bell Bank ParkSeptember 2021 – April 2023
Legacy Sports ParkOctober 2020 - September 2021
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References

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